About the Emergency Preparedness Commission
for the County and Cities of Los Angeles

The Commission was originally known as the "Los Angeles County and Cities Disaster and Civil Defense Commission" at its inception in 1961. It was retitled " The Emergency Preparedness Commission for the County and Cities of Los Angeles" as part of the Board of Supervisors' adoption of County Ordinance10937 on August 2, 1974.

The Commission consists of nine members, all of whom must be County residents. Three members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, three by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, and three by the President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities. Commissioners serve four-year terms without compensation, and elect a chairman, vice chairman and secretary annually.

The Commission is composed of members who have valuable expertise in the field of emergency preparedness and response. The County and the City of Los Angeles traditionally appoint members from their key agencies with management or operational responsibilities for extraordinary emergencies. The League of California Cities normally appoints officials from among the 88 other cities, also based on their experience and involvement in emergency preparedness.

The Commission's duties and functions include:

1. Consult with the County, cities and other public authorities and coordinate the development of emergency and disaster plans and programs which are countywide or affect numerous jurisdictions. Support and promote emergency planning improvements, simplification and standardization.
   
   
2. Consider and recommend to the Board and the governing bodies of cities and other operating authorities within the County, programs and policies deemed advisable or necessary to establish and maintain viable emergency and disaster preparedness programs within this county.
   
   
3. Consider and recommend emergency and disaster preparedness programs and policies in this county of local non-governmental organizations and to appropriate State and Federal agencies.
   
   
4. Recommend that the proper authority promote training and education programs in all phases of emergency and disaster preparedness within the jurisdictions represented by the Commission or in conjunction with the State or Federal emergency or disaster agencies, or both.

The Commission normally meets monthly, with special meetings called as needed. As a rule, monthly meetings include presentations by experts in various emergency preparedness and response fields. Commission meetings are open to the public, and provide an excellent opportunity for participants and guests to exchange ideas and information. In addition, the Commission has the authority to conduct investigations and hearings.

For more information, please contact the Executive Director, Emergency Preparedness Commission, 1275 N. Eastern Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90063, (323) 980-2260, FAX (213) 881-6897.